a hierarchy, always. i find myself avoiding Chapterhouse and Ride and opting for Ian Masters-era Pale Saints (even pre-Meriel). it's dumb, but the elitist in me feels like i get way more cred for this.

more personal resentment. my feelings for Pale Saints gradually changed with each progression. to me, the trio of Ian, Chris & Graeme was the real deal, pure - core Pale Saints. powerpop, so tight, knit together by Ian's often pained, and uniquely toned vocals. Meriel joined, and things were still OK - but she brought along a clearer production quality that i felt conflicted about. i much prefered the obscure, lonely tinniness of Comforts of Madness. with the new defined resolution she also brought a very traditionally good voice - again, conflict. most shoegaze singers hid their vocals, their puretoned, skinny and sometimes unstable vocals. who was this good singer barging her way into this dear low-fi trio? OK, i can't deny that "kinky love" is blissful. what a great intro to Meriel (via 120 for me, interestingly). oh lord and then i discovered who she really was... Miki's ex-friend and the original Lush singer?! the subject of "Etheriel"?!

well i got over any reservations because whatever, Ian was still there. "Throwing Back the Apple" is still quintessentially Pale Saints in my book.

and then, horror of horrors... Ian left the band... and was replaced by this random girl from the Heartthrobs?! How dare they keep the band name. This was no longer my Pale Saints. They were boringly mellow and tame. I saw them play live (Meriel kindly snuck Sheila & I into the 21+ venue) and this Heartthrobs girl actually sang Sight of You!!!! I was livid. it was so wrong! i wound up offloading that CD at some point, i couldn't bear having it.

fortunately. i was able to keep up with Ian a bit - the weird stuff he did with Warren Defever which i love, along with Spoonfed Hybrid and Oneironaut.